This one's for the UK readership.....

Today's Andrew Marr TV programme put up a rather nondescript Secretary of State called Andrew Mitchell, evidently in charge of International Development while we seem unable to manage our own Development..

He parrotted his responses beautifully, unhesitatingly and totally forgettably from the briefing that he had been given, including the rage-inducing news that the Civil Servants in his Department had, at some time in the past, paid £100,000 for a label design saying "Aid from the Department of International Development", now to be replaced by one saying "UK Aid from the British People" which, boasted the Civil Servant who wrote his briefing, "has not cost a penny"!

But what really struck me was that on his head was, Shirley, a cheap rug, an impression enhanced by what looked like an overdose of fake tan.

Does anyone out there know the truth?

All I know is that we pay taxes for the development of this country. Money for overseas development should be voluntary and not by law as a tax demand. His justification for giving our tax money to other countries is typical of people who are well off and feel that the rest of us should give as well.

There seems to be some confusion over names here....I was certain the head on the left in the photo above was called Richard....

....and the 0.7% of GDP for overseas aid is going to become a law BBC News - Andrew Mitchell: UK international aid target 'to be law' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18568533)

Did a voyage to Thailand in the late fifties and their was a bit of a stink on because an American ship was discharging grain as part of an aid shipment. The grain was being carried in bulk but was being bagged at discharge, a chap was stencilling a message on each bag before it went into the warehouse. After about a week an American came down from the embassy who could speak and read the local lingo and realised that the message being stencilled was nothing to do with them and roughly translated to "A present from the USSR."!!

Edited to say what i meant!!

Old China

He had a different hair style this morning; when was that pic made? Today's was much more rug-like.

Here's the iplayer version. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01kcz3c/The_Andrew_Marr_Show_24_06_2012/)...the rug comes on about halfway through.

Thpeech defect?

He has a huge furrow running up the crown of his head, his hair is somehow bifurcated. If it is a syrup, I've seen better party wigs from £1 shops.

He seems to be in a great hurry to squander my money. Yours as well if you are ukian.

I feel a little sorry for him.
"Darling, it's Number 10 for you"
<Thinks - Defence? Foreign Office? Home Office?>
"Congratulations, Andrew I am giving you the portfolio for splunking money away on foreigners who hate us, and whom the electorate hates in return"

Two months into the job:
"How many zeroes would you like on this cheque, Mr Gupta?"
"Keep going, Minister"
Three months into the job:
Headlines:
All jobs North of Watford Gap now outsourced
India launches yet another space mission
Nuclear test detected in India, near Pakistani border: "It was probably me slamming the fridge door" says Indian PM.

Six months into job:
"How many zeroes would you like, Mr Zhen?"
"Keep going, Minister"

Talk about a short straw. I'd have taken the Gary Glitter is Innocent or the Bomber Command were murdering Swine and don't deserve a memorial portfolios first.

SO

Does he now look like this?

You got it.